In Patrick O'Brian's "The Mauritius Command," Captain Aubrey's perspective on birds reflects a broader view of nature. He simplifies the avian world into two categories: those that can be eaten and those that cannot. This viewpoint illustrates a pragmatic approach to survival and utility in the natural world, emphasizing the basic instincts that govern life at sea and in battle.
This reductionist view can also symbolize the broader themes of the...